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Who Is Cheryl Cole?

In 2009, a five-girl R&B and pop group in the UK named themselves, Girls Aloud, producing a hit winning the award for Best Singles, The Promise, and then shortly thereafter disbanded. One of these five, Cheryl Cole, went on to produce, write, and perform two subsequent albums, Three Words (2009) and Messy Little Raindrops” (2010), the latter of which gained the number one album for that year in England.

First a star on TV series, Popstars: The Rivals program on British television, in 2010, she earned a place among the judge panel on the television reality show, the British version of the “ x factor .” She was set for judging on the American version of the show, which premiered earlier this month, but rumour was she was “sacked” two weeks before airing of the show for undisclosed reasons.

Cheryl Cole Facts

As a young girl, dancing was her first interest. Since then, Cole has graced the covers multiple times for magazines that include modelling for British Vogue, Elle, and Harpers Bizarre. She is the current face of L’Oreal Elvive hair products. In 2006, Cheryl married footballer Ashley Cole, and after at least two publicised instances of her husband engaging in sexual relations with other women, even after a reconciliation, Cheryl filed for divorce in 2010.

Decorated with five tattoos, gracing her thigh, lower back, neck, derriere, and hand, Cheryl currently is said to want to remove her hand tattoo, a Maori style (New Zealand) preferring to have only Polynesian style tattoos adorning her body. Her photograph can be seen on any present-day entertainment publication involving television, pop music, or celebrity gossip. Her pictures for her Official Calendar 2012 is influences from 1980’s garb and designs. Her single, “ fight for this love ” is so popular it is available for mobile ring tones, having risen to the UK‘s top hit the fastest of any other pop single. Fight For This Love rose up the UK Top Hit list faster than any other single on record.

Latest on Cheryl Cole

Andy “Bagsy” Baker, a soldier in the Royal Marines, met and presently communicates with the pop star who visited the British troops stationed in Afghanistan to perform her music. News reports state she is still dating her ex-husband.

Cheryl Cole is young, beautiful, and talented, and only at 28 years of age, one would hope she maintains a discriminating balance between stardom and reality, work and family, fans and self. Hopefully Cole will go on to succeed in many venues, and become the serious Hollywood actress she dreams of becoming. Her goal will start with her current efforts to take up residence in the United States.

Photo: Daniel Suarez

Numerous men have lived behind the varied facades of 221b Baker Street, over the years. Television and cinema have produced several generations, and interpretations, of Sherlock Holmes for an ever growing fan base. Most would argue that the top contenders for the “Best Holmes” are easily enough to work out. Peter Cushing, Basil Rathbone, and Jeremy Brett have all delivered beloved interpretations of everyone’s favourite London Sleuth.

Within the modern generations of Holmes fans there are many who would say the best portrayal of was clearly the most recent by Robert Downey Jr. There is a large amount of differing qualities to consider when choosing a “Best Holmes”. Overall audience appeal is obviously important. Some would say most memorable is a prime factor. Others turn to direct interpretation of the original stories. These, seeming to be the most obvious angles to examine, are what will be used as qualifiers.

To viewers of many generations Peter Cushing is easily the most recognisable Sherlock Holmes. Though not the first to adopt the deerstalker cap and Calabash pipe. Cushing’s tenure as Holmes through both movies and television seems to be the one that viewers across all ages remember. Perhaps Cushing’s uniquely expressive face weighed so heavily on the minds of viewers as children. It’s literally the imagery of Peter Cushing that has has been nostalgically remembered ever since as the idealised version of Holmes, even where it contradicts the stories a bit.

On the qualifier of similarity to the books, there are several aspects of Holmes to consider. And it’s possible that some earlier actors are losing out here, as societal influences may not have allowed earlier broadcasts to depict some of Holmes’ predilections for what we recognise now as substance abuse. On these notes, as well as the substantial qualifier of realistically seeming to know every corner of London, Downey Jr. is the obvious pick. The reputation as a fierce boxer is served well by Downey Jr. as well as other action oriented elements, so this one isn’t too difficult.

On as far as audience appeal goes, it’s a tighter race, but ultimately Downey Jr. wins out again on a far simpler set of qualifications. Basil Rathbone and Jeremy Brett are both contenders here, it is the sheer force of modern technology propelling Robert Downey Jr. to the front of this line. By sheer size of fan base alone, the most modern Holmes sweeps this category as well.

Ultimately there probably isn’t a definitive answer as to the “Best Holmes!” It is simply a matter of choosing what the individual viewer finds the most important aspects of the Sherlock Holmes, and then enjoying it. By this simple scale of comparison, however, Robert Downey Jr. comes out far ahead.

Photo: Dorron

Useful Links

Sherlock Holmes Kit

Sherlock Holmes Society of London

Robert Downey Jr. fan site